1
|
Qu W, Wang X, Liu Y, Mao J, Liu M, Zhong Y, Gao B, Zhao M, Gao Y. Self-Medication with Antibiotics Among Children in China: A Cross-Sectional Study of Parents' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:7683-7694. [PMID: 38144221 PMCID: PMC10741740 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s431034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) among children is a common practice in low-income and middle-income countries, which has accelerated antibacterial abuse. Objective This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of SMA among children in China, including parents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards antibiotic use. Methods A cross-sectional study based on a structured questionnaire survey of parents was conducted in Nantong between July and September 2020. A total of 1699 respondents participated. Information on participants' demographic and family characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards antibiotics use was collected. Hierarchical binary logistic regression was used to examine the predictors of SMA among children. Results Among 1699 participants, 23.31% practiced SMA to their children in the past year. Cough (59.6%) was the most common symptom leading to self-medication and penicillins (85.4%) were the most commonly used drugs. Hierarchical regression indicated that parents with higher level of antibiotic knowledge scores (OR=1.163, 95% CI: 1.067-1.268) and buying antibiotics without a prescription from pharmacy (OR=1.475, 95% CI: 1.097-1.983) were more likely to practice SMA to their children both in urban and in rural areas. Storing antibiotics at home resulted in an increased likelihood of self-medication in urban areas but not in rural areas. In addition, there was also a higher probability of non-prescribed antibiotics in children without chronic diseases (OR=1.959, 95% CI:1.072-3.578). Conclusion The prevalence of SMA in children is high in China. Higher knowledge scores and practices of buying and storing non-prescribed antibiotics behaviors increased parents' antibiotic self-medication in their children. Practical and effective education intervention for children's rational use of antibiotics is urgently strengthened.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Qu
- Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
- Institute for Health Development, Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yufei Liu
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinfeng Mao
- Institute for Health Development, Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengchi Liu
- National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaqin Zhong
- Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
- Institute for Health Development, Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bella Gao
- Ulink College of Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Miaomiao Zhao
- Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuexia Gao
- Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
- Institute for Health Development, Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tarciuc P, Duduciuc A, Chirila SI, Herdea V, Rosu O, Varga A, Ioniuc I, Diaconescu S. Assessing the Effects of Medical Information on Parental Self-Medication Behaviors for Children's Health: A Comparative Analysis. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:2093. [PMID: 38138196 PMCID: PMC10745013 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59122093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Health professionals have voiced concerns about the danger of self-medication in times of growing use of over-the-counter medicines and, in some contexts, the unregulated selling of them. Previous research has examined the incidence of parental self-medication as well as the use and abuse of antibiotics without medical advice. However, these studies have limited evidence on the role of family doctors and the perceived severity of self-medication in the case of parents. Based on the Health Belief Model, our research tested the effects of exposure to medical information on the parents' attitudes toward self-treating their children, without medical advice. Specifically, we aimed to assess whether exposure to information warning about the risks of treating children without a medical prescription influences parents' attitudes toward administering medicines to their children without medical advice. Materials and Methods: 210 parents engaged in the study, and were divided into two groups. One group was exposed to educational materials related to the perils of self-medication and the second one was not. All participants answered the same questionnaire and the answers were compared between the two groups. Results: The results showed that our respondents evaluated the practices of self-medication negatively (a higher score indicates a more negative evaluation), especially when it came to treating their children without medical advice (3.91 ± 1.04 for unexposed and 3.98 ± 1.08 for exposed). However, their attitudes towards self-medication varied depending on their beliefs about administering certain medications. Both those exposed to the warning information and those who were not exposed have agreed that they are unable to avoid treatment of their ill child without medical advice. Conclusions: In general, our respondents evaluate negatively the practices of self-medication, especially the treatment of their children without medical advice. Therefore, future health education campaigns need to be targeted specifically, with messages that guide how to act in particular cases depending on the medication used and the child's condition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petruța Tarciuc
- Doctoral School, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Str., 540139 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Alina Duduciuc
- Faculty of Communication and Public Relations, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, 012104 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sergiu Ioachim Chirila
- Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University, 900527 Constanta, Romania
| | - Valeria Herdea
- Doctoral School, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Str., 540139 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Oana Rosu
- Doctoral School, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Str., 540139 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Andreea Varga
- Department ME2-Clinical Disciplines, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, Romania
- Department of Internal Medicine II-Cardiology, Emergency Clinical County Hospital, 540042 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Ileana Ioniuc
- Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Str., 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Smaranda Diaconescu
- Faculty of Medicine, “Titu Maiorescu” University of Medicine, 67A Gheorghe Petrascu Str., 031593 Bucharest, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Alonso-Castro AJ. Special Issue "Ethnopharmacology in Latin America". Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1189. [PMID: 37764997 PMCID: PMC10538167 DOI: 10.3390/ph16091189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Latin America is a multicultural region encompassing 43 countries, with 665 million inhabitants with a mean age of 31 years old, 84% of whom live in urban areas [...].
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angel Josabad Alonso-Castro
- Departamento de Farmacia, Universidad de Guanajuato, Noria Alta, Colonia Noria Alta Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36250, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pons EDS, Pizzol TDSD, Knauth DR, Mengue SS. Self-medication in children aged 0-12 years in Brazil: a population-based study. REVISTA PAULISTA DE PEDIATRIA : ORGAO OFICIAL DA SOCIEDADE DE PEDIATRIA DE SAO PAULO 2023; 42:e2022137. [PMID: 37436244 PMCID: PMC10332440 DOI: 10.1590/1984-0462/2024/42/2022137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJETIVE Studies have shown that the practice of self-medicating children occurs worldwide and is independent of the country's economic level, medication policies, or access to health services. This study aimed to estimate and characterize the prevalence of self-medication in the Brazilian population of children aged up to 12 years. METHODS We analyzed the data of 7528 children aged up to 12 years whose primary caregivers responded to the National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines in Brazil (PNAUM), a cross-sectional population-based study conducted in 245 Brazilian municipalities. The prevalence of self-medication was defined as the use of at least one medication without a doctor's or dentist's indication 15 days before the interview. RESULTS The prevalence of self-medication was 22.2% and was more frequent in older children belonging to poorer families and without health insurance. The acute conditions for which there was a higher frequency of self-medication were pain, fever, and cold/allergic rhinitis. Analgesics/antipyretics stood out among the most used medications for self-medication. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of self-medication to treat acute conditions was high in Brazilian children sampled in PNAUM, emphasizing the management of common symptoms such as pain, fever, and cold/allergic rhinitis in this age group. These findings reinforce the need for educational actions aimed at parents and caregivers.
Collapse
|
5
|
Mirdad OA, Esheba GE, Mousa AH, Nukaly HY, Alhindi YZ, Hariri NH, Ayoub N, Alsanosi SM. Over-the-Counter Medication Use among Parents in Saudi Arabia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20021193. [PMID: 36673949 PMCID: PMC9858867 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Self-medication is a growing public health concern worldwide. Studies have shown a gap between best practice and the current practice of using over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Despite being a well-recognised problem in Saudi Arabia, few studies have investigated OTC medication use in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the attitudes and knowledge of parents regarding OTC medication use in the Jeddah region, Saudi Arabia. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out via an electronic questionnaire sent randomly to parents over four months, from 1 January to 30 April 2022. The participants’ characteristics and categorical variables were represented descriptively by frequency and percentage. A Chi-square test was used to test the relationship between the variables. Results: In total, 211 questionnaires were included in this study. Females represented 54.5% of the participants included in the study. Parents belonging to the 18-to-30-year-old group comprised the highest percentage (37.9%), and most of the parents (72.9%) had received an undergraduate education. Family physicians were the most common source (37.3%) of information about OTC medications, whereas more than half of parents purchased OTC medications from the community pharmacy (58.8%). While almost half of the parents (52.1%) visited a family physician when side effects of OTC medications appeared in their children, only (33.6%) stopped giving their children the OTC medicine. The relationship between the sociodemographic characteristics (including educational level, marital status, and employment status) and OTC drug consumption was significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Educational campaigns are needed to guide patients about the proper use of OTC medications. Studies on OTC medication use are lacking in Saudi Arabia in terms of its frequency, reasons for use, type of self-medication, and contributing factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ola A. Mirdad
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24375, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghada E. Esheba
- Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24375, Saudi Arabia
- Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31111, Egypt
| | - Ahmed H. Mousa
- College of Medicine and Surgery, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Houriah Y. Nukaly
- College of Medicine and Surgery, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yosra Z. Alhindi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24375, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nahla H. Hariri
- Department of Community Medicine and Health Care for Pilgrims, Faculty of Medicine, Umm AlQura University, Makkah 24375, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nahla Ayoub
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24375, Saudi Arabia
| | - Safaa M. Alsanosi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24375, Saudi Arabia
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| |
Collapse
|